1. Now Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2. "Shall a wise man raise his voice with opinions of wind, and does he fill his belly with the east wind?
3. To debate over a matter from which he derives no benefit and words in which there is no avail?
4. Surely you will do away with fear and increase speech before God.
5. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, but you should have chosen the tongue of the crafty.
6. Let your own mouth condemn you and not I, and let your own lips testify against you.
7. Were you born before Adam? Were you created before the hills?
8. Did you listen to the counsel of God and increase wisdom to yourself?
9. What do you know that we do not know? [What do] you understand that is not with us?
10. Both old and ancient are among us, who have more days than your father.
11. Are God's consolations little for you, and the thing that He gave you gently?
12. What does your heart teach you and what do your eyes hint?
13. That you should return your wind to God and let words come out of your mouth.
14. What is man that he should be innocent, and that one born of woman should be just?
15. Lo! He does not believe in His holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in His eyes.
16. Surely [not] one who is abominable and impure, a man who drinks injustice like water.
17. I will tell you, listen to me; and this I saw and I will tell.
18. That the wise men tell and do not hide from their fathers.
19. To them alone the land was given, and no stranger passed in their midst.
20. All the days of a wicked man, he mourns, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
21. The voice of terrors is in his ears; in peace a robber will come upon him.
22. He will not believe that he shall return from darkness, and he is destined to the sword.
23. He wanders for bread, where is it? He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24. Distress and anguish frighten him; it overpowers him like a king destined for the inferno,
25. for he stretched his hand to God and showed his strength against the Almighty.
26. He runs toward Him with his neck upright, with the thickness of the body of his shields.
27. For he has covered his face with his fat, and he has made collops of fat on his loins.
28. And he dwelt in ruined cities, in houses that could not be inhabited, that were destined to become heaps.
29. He will not become wealthy, and his possessions will not remain; neither will the gratification of their desire bend to the earth.
30. He will not turn away from darkness; a flame will dry out his young branches, and he will turn away by the breath of His mouth.
31. He who was misled by futility will not believe that his recompense shall be futility.
32. Before his time it will be completed, and his branches will not be green.
33. He will cast off his unripe grapes like a vine, and he will throw off his blossom like an olive tree.
34. Because the company of a hypocrite is lonely, and a fire consumes the tents of bribery.
35. They conceive trouble and bear iniquity, and their belly prepares deceit."
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
